Not all sunshine as Ireland toil in the Algarve

Gibraltar 0 Ireland 4: It might have taken some heavy labouring by the green shirts before they got to put their feet up last night but, after finally getting to savour that Friday feeling in Faro — not least thanks to another brace from the ever reliable Robbie Keane — the urgent task for Ireland now is to avoid those Monday blues in Dublin.

Almost an hour before kick off in the Estadio Algarve, a roar went up from the Irish supporters gathering outside in the evening sunshine, confirmation that Georgia had held onto their 1-0 lead over Scotland in Tbilisi. And with Ireland duly collecting their mandatory three points against Gibraltar, albeit after a less than inspiring performance against Europe’s weakest team, it means a change in the pecking order between the group rivals.

But it’s one which will only begin to count for more so long as the now third-placed Irish complete the second leg of the double with another win against the Georgians in Dublin in two days’ time. True, if they’re not exhausted by their efforts against the Scots, the Georgians will be coming to the Aviva with an unaccustomed pep in their step but, right now, that winning moment of Aiden McGeady magic in the very first game in Tbilisi has the look of something that might yet prove to be even more welcome in the long term than it did on opening night.